Airlines should stop overbooking flights
Years ago, it was easy to book a flight and then change it if necessary. While this was great for the passenger, it was probably frustrating for the airline that might end up flying a less than full plane. So, the answer for for them was to overbook the flight. Today, however, airlines charge a hefty fine ($200) for anyone changing their flight. So there is a simple solution for the airlines to avoid the situation United Airlines had recently. Either stop overbooking flights, or stop charging the change fee. We all know that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.
GENE TURNER, ATLANTA
Delta really missed the mark
On April 5, rounds of thunderstorms swept through Atlanta, causing delays and cancellations for thousands of airport passengers. Despite a lengthy recovery period affecting thousands of customers, I’m worried that the recent PR nightmare at United will cause us to forget about this debacle. As a frequent traveler and Delta Air Lines medallion flier who spent tens of thousands of dollars with them last year, I was appalled at the recovery process and general absence of great customer service we’ve all come to expect. My flight was canceled, I was provided a seat at an airport three hours away, and midway through my drive, that flight was canceled too. I reached out via Twitter several times looking for some help, and the Delta app kept crashing. My own travel agency 24-hour emergency line was the only thing that helped me.
We all have some patience for thunderstorms, and we realize that airlines cannot control the weather. Though this is nothing new. Delta can control how operational disruptions affect its customers, and how they serve customers when disruptions take place. For a company that prides itself on operational excellence and openly brags about how few flights it cancels, they really missed the mark. When is Delta going to tell us what they’re going to do to make their high-paying customers feel valued rather than stranded, helpless, and hopeless?
MATTHEW J. SOBIESKI, ATLANTA
Tax cuts take away from higher education
In the AJC, it was announced that college tuition in Georgia is going up again (“Georgia tuition will rise this fall,” News, April 19). When tax reduction on the rich is the primary Republican priority, it naturally follows that there have to be reductions somewhere and Georgia colleges have been the victim for these short-sighted tax policies.
I’m old enough to remember pre-Reagan days when college was affordable for the middle class. Reagan’s first priority was to reduce taxes on the rich. Every Republican in America followed suit and reduced taxes on the rich in every state they could, Georgia included.
California is removing Gov. Reagan’s tax cuts that crippled their once-great college system. Now, affordable colleges make California more attractive to business. Georgia has to bribe businesses to come to Georgia, which takes away funds that should go to education.
MIKE HOLZKNECHT, ATLANTA
Addicts must hit bottom to seek help
I have read Leonard Pitts’ “War on drugs,” Opinion, April 16, over and over, attempting to grasp his point. In my opinion, he is waltzing all around the issue. Is it an addict problem or a supplier issue? It’s both. Jailing an addict because they are an addict solves nothing. If they commit crimes due to their addiction, jail them absolutely.
Going after the supply, from source to street — that to me is the War on Drugs.
In the same issue is a very strong feature about Josh Horton who went through the trip to hell and back more than once. Josh is a classic example of what addiction is and how an active addict or alcoholic deals with life, or not. Unfortunately, nothing will stop an active alcoholic/addict from spiraling out of control — not court appearances, jail time, hospital confinement or sleeping on the street, as Josh experienced, until they reach the point when they decide to seek help. Forced rehab, AA/NA meetings or some form of psychotherapy is quite pointless when the only reason to go is to stay out of jail. Thankfully, Josh reached a bottom that brought him to face the reality of his life.
There is a great deal of help for those who have been beat up enough to seek help, but forcing anyone does not work. As is said, drinking and drugging is a physical addiction coupled with a mental obsession.
LOU SICUREZZA, MARIETTA
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